STUDIES IN THE METABOLISM OF SODIUM r-LACTATE. III. RESPONSE OF HUMAN SUBJECTS WITH LIVER DAMAGE, DISTURBED WATER AND MINERAL BALANCE, AND RENAL INSUFFICIENCY TO THE INTRAVENOUS INJECTION OF SODIUM r-LACTATE.

Up to the present time we have been able to study four cases of acute hepatitis of the type more commonly known as acute catarrhal jaundice. As may be noted from Table 1 and Chart 1, the rate of disappearance of lactate from the blood was considerably delayed in the subjects with jaundice as compared with the normal. Increase in glucose in the blood was less rapid and less marked. A slight delay in the rise of the carbon dioxide content of the blood was also noted, the peak coming at the end of the second hour in two instances, and at the end of the fourth hour in one. In order to compare these data graphically with the normal, the results of Cases H-1130, F-2131 and H-925 were averaged because of their more complete data and because the dose of molar sodium r-lactate was approximately the same in each instance, averaging almost exactly 7 cc. per kilogram of body weight. For the graphic presentation of the normal subjects Cases G-336, G-1982, F-2131 and H-925 were selected for similar reasons. The average dose of molar sodium r-lactate in this group was 6.75 cc. per kilogram of body weight.